PFAS ban in Maine, USA is now effective. From January 1, 2026, the sale or distribution of consumer goods with intentionally added PFAS - including cookware, cosmetics, and textile articles - is prohibited across the state. Maine won’t stay an outlier - more U.S. states and Europe are moving in the same direction. PFAS and the ban, explained like we’re five, here. And in case you wonder which PFAS ban applies to your products and markets, check it out here.
In Europe, the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is delayed by 12 months. Enforcement now starts December 30, 2026, for large and medium operators, and June 30, 2027, for micro and small. Compliance roadmaps will need to stretch accordingly. We also explained EUDR like you’re five, here.
Meanwhile, the UK Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) introduces a Red/Amber/Green fee system. ‘Red’ packaging - i.e, hard to recycle - is now 1.2x the base fee for 2026/27, climbing to 2x by 2028/29. Large operators should expect the first invoices in late 2026. EPR and LCA are two faces of the same coin. Again, we wrote about LCA explained like you’re five, here.
For those who want to dive deeper on packaging, we published a series of Packaging Reality Checks with Michal Zimowski, an Austria-based expert, examining 2 major pain points of the industry:
For food-contact packaging, PCR resin from chemical recycling is often the only viable route
While biodegradable solutions can be technically feasible, they often land 100–500% higher than standard plastics; certification can start around €10,000 and take up to 6 months.
Further Readings⋅ Material Intelligence & More ⋅ Q1.2026
(Europe 🇪🇺) - EU Bans Russian Gas: What It Means for Industry
EU bans Russian gas by 2027. Non-compliance fines hit 3.5% of global revenue.
(North America 🇺🇸🇨🇦) - Quieter Layoffs in Manufacturing
Layoffs due to inactivity in North America in Q1 2026: General Motors, Algoma Steel Inc., Alpek Polyester USA, Resonetics and CNH
(USA 🇺🇸) - Voyager Ventures Raises $275M Fund, continuing climate investing
The fund founded in 2021. This round brings its total assets under management to $475 million across North America and Europe.
(Europe 🇪🇺) - The Effects of Regulating Greenwashing: Evidence from Europe’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR)
”We find that the introduction of the SFDR in March 2021 had no impact on mutual fund flows.”
(Europe 🇪🇺)– The cost of PFAS pollution for our society
A EU-commission Report evaluated that the cost of PFAS pollution in Europe could reach €1.7 trillion.
(Europe 🇪🇺) - PPWR, explained like I’m five
PPWR is the EU’s new rulebook for packaging - what you can sell, how it must be designed, and what happens after use.